Text resize:^-A A ⁺A

Palliative medicine

Palliative medicine physicians care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, making their lives more comfortable even though their condition is deteriorating. Symptom control is a large part of their work, but they also deal with social and psychological difficulties and get involved in family and carer needs.

Traditionally, most referrals to palliative care services have been for cancer, but increasingly palliative physicians deal with other illnesses such as end-stage lung, heart and renal disease, and degenerative neurological conditions. The emphasis on rehabilitation and maintenance of function in deteriorating conditions has grown over the years.

Consultants in palliative medicine work within multiprofessional teams and services. In hospitals and the community, the role of these teams is advisory – the overall responsibility for medical care remains with the hospital consultant or the general practitioner. In specialist palliative care units, palliative medicine consultants have overall medical responsibility for the patients. Because palliative care services are funded by a mixture of NHS and voluntary sector money, consultants in palliative medicine often have a major role in local strategic planning of services and in negotiating with commissioning bodies.

Related RCP publications

Map of Medicine

The RCP has been working with Map of Medicine since 2008 to produce web-based knowledge support tools. There are 300 evidence-based clinical care maps covering all major areas of healthcare; including care maps for specific specialties.

Care map	Specialty	Date of expiry	External link to Map of Medicine
Death and bereavement	Palliative medicine	27 January 2012	Access the death and bereavement care map